Yield and excitation function measurements of some nuclear reactions on natural thallium induced by protons leading to the production of medical radioisotopes 201Tl and 203Pb

Excitation functions for 201Pb, 202mPb, 203Pb and 204mPb radionuclides which are formed via proton induced reactions with natural thallium target have been measured from their respective threshold (Ethr) to 27.5 MeV using activation technique. Natural copper foils were used to monitor the cyclotron beam. The integral yields (MBq/μA h) of the produced radionuclides were calculated from the measured excitation functions. The optimum proton energy range for the production of 203Pb with low amount of impurities is (16-10 MeV) after 5 h of EOB. The experimental cross-sections for natTl(p,xn) reactions were compared with the cross-sections recommended by the IAEA and with earlier published data when it was possible. (orig.)